Adjustable latch lock fastener



May 129 193] H. A. BORRESEN ,805,356

ADJUSTABLE LATCH LOCK FASTENER wi, vf l /49 59 4.13 (fag 7 Federated May l2, 193i HELGE A. IBORRESEN, OF CHICAGO, IILLINOIS, ASSGNOR- TO UNITEE-CARR FAS'lE-NER CORPORATION, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATEON F IYISSACHU- SETTS ADJUSTABLE :Arci-r LOCK FASTENER Application filed Becember 16, 1922. Serial No. 807,345.

i nature that has a socket member secured to one member which said fastener is intended to secure to another member, and a device carrying a locking latch that is provided with a projecting portion adapted to enter said socket and lock itself therein so as to secure said members together.

It is a further purpose of the invention .to provide a device of the above mcntioned'character comprising a latch that `is adapted to be automatically moved to unlocking position by engagement of the material upon which the same is mounted with-a portion of said latch to move said latch to unlocking position.

It is still a. further purpose of the invention to provide a fastener of the above mentioned character which is readily adjustable to various positions, this being easily accomplished due to the fact that the stationary portion of the device is a socket member. Said socket members can be multiplied and very closely spaced, thus providing a close or fine adjustment over ther fastening device.

it is still a further purpose of the invention to provide a new and improved spring structure for holding said locking latch in locking position, said spring being so formed as to get the maXimum effective length of spring into use.

lt is still another purpose of the invention to provide a fastener of the above mentioned character which is adapted to secure a plurality of plies ofv material together in superposed relationship. The fasteners are preferably so made that the same can be used on o wearing apparel, as well as for the purpose for which said fasteners are usually used, that is. for automobile curtains and the like. The fasteners are adapted for use 0n such articles as shoes, belts, coats and gloves. he principle involved in the fastener, it has been found, can also'be adapted for fastening large rigid members in position, and it is a purpose of the invention to provide means for simultaneously operating a plurality of fasteners for securing a window frame carrying a window pane quickly detachable in position on an automobile top, or the like, so that an open body can be readily converted into a closed body and vice versa.

Other objects and advantagesof the invention will appear as the description of the accompanying drawings proceeds. However, I desire to have it distinctly understood that I do not intend to limit myself to the exact details shown or described, but that l intend to `include as part of my invention all such obvious changes and modifications of parts as would occur to a person skilled in this art and as would fall within the scope of the claims.

In the drawings Fig. l is a bottom plan view of the latch carrying member of my improved fastener showing, in dotted lines, certain portions of the blank from which the same is made;

Fig. 2 isa horizontal section of the latchcarrying member applied to the material which is to be held in position, the same being taken substantially onthe line 242 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the fastener showing the same applied to two overlying layers of material fastened together thereby, said section being` taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; f

Fig. 41 is a bottom plan view of the latchcarrying member showing the same fastened to alayer of material carrying the same;

Fig. 5 lis a plan view of a double socket memberto use with the latch-carrying member to obtain adjustability for the device;

Fig. 6 is a perspectii'f'e view of the Locking latch; and

Fig. 7 isa section thereof taken on the line 7 7 of 6.

Referring in detail to the drawings. I have shown a so-called three side lock fastener comprising a socket member 3l 3) of the flush type kind and having a cylindrical wall portion and a downwardly inclined substantially conical lip portion 86, providing a space 37 within said socket member for receiving the end of a stud member, as shown in Fig. 3. The socket is secured in a recess 32 in the supporting member 33 by means of a screw 34 or other suitable device.

Cooperating with the socket member 31 is a stud member comprising the cover plate or casing 38 having the side wall portions 39 and the inturned tongues or flanges 4() forming a bottom for said cover plate to provide a housing for a latch-presenting member 41. The stu-.il is attached to a flexible carrying medium 43 by means of prongs 42 which pass through the material 43, through apertures in the plate member 44 and are then upset against the plate. The latchspresenting member 41, as clearly she-wn in Fig. 6, comprises a body portion 45 having the upturned stop lugs 46 at opposite sides thereof, and a luv 47 at one end thereof. The member 45 is oiiset at 48 and has an extension or finger portion 49 extending outwardly beyond the housing 38, said extension 49 serving as an operating member adapted to move said latch member to unlocking position. The movement of the latch member is accomplished by engagement of the flexible material 43 with said member 49, said member 49 being rolled over as shown at 50 to provide a curved edge portion on both the upper and lower surfaces thereof, and is transversely curved as shown in Fig. 6 at 51 te provide a curved edge in a transverse direction, thus a curved surface will be presented to the material 43 wherever the same will engage with said finger portion 49. Said latch-presenting member' is also provided with a slot or opening 52, the material from said opening 52 being struck downwardly at a right angle to the finger 49 and shaped so as to form a portion 53, which is curved along a cylindrical contour so as to form a partly cylindrical member, and is provided with a notch or eut out portion 54 to provide a shoulder 54 with which the lip 36 on the member 31 is adapted to engage, as best shown in Fig. 3. The member 44 is provided with a similar partly cylindrical downstruck portion or shank 55 having a bottom 56 and being open at one side to permit movement of the latch portion transversely to the axis of the said shank. The portion 55, together with the portion enters the opening within the socket member 31 and the portion 55 engages the lip portion 36 to act as an abutment or stop, in this particular construction, to hold the socket against lateral movement with respect to the stud. The shoulder 54 carried by the portion 53 is moved by a spring, hereinafter more fully described, into engagement with the lip portion 36, as shown in Figure 3. For the purposes of this application, this portion 53 may be termed a latch.

Upon reference to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the contour of the cover or cap member of the housing is not circular, but the same has a curved end portion 57 merging into substantially straight side portions 58 which are connected by means of the curved portions 59 with the substantially straight end portion 60, which is slotted suitably to allow the member 49 to pass therethrough. lt is shown in Fig. 1 that this slot for member 49 contains an upwardly extending lug 200 positioned in opening 52 providing a stop for the latch-presenting member 41 by engagement with the end 201 of the slot 52 and also forming support for the cover plates 46, as the ends 202 thereof rest on said lug. The latch portion 53 is held in locking position by means of a spring having the arcuate. end portion 61 engaging the lug 47 which merges into a diagonally extending straight portion 62 which connects with the transversely extending straight portion 63 extending parallel to the end 60, and which connects with the diagonally extending straight portion 64 corresponding to the portion 62, which in turn merges with an arcuate portion 65 of comparatively long radius of curvature, terminating in an abruptly curved end portion 66.

rIt will be noted that the lugs 46 are nor mally out of engagement with the spring, but the same will engage with the spring in case the spring should tend to shift out ot' normal position due to a rotative movement thereof, thus effectively preventing said shifting of the spring. This is due to engagement of either the portion 62 or 64 with one of said lugs 46 and engagementof the straight portion 63 with the straight end portion 60 of the housing. The particular spring construction is very effective, for it i *ill be noted that if the latch-presenting member 41 is moved to the left in Fig. 2, the arcuate portion 6l will first be distorted, thus moving the side portions of the spring from the portions 58 of the housing so as to cause the entire spring to be in a position free of the housing and effective from the point where the lug 47 engages with the curved portion 61 to the point where the end portion 66 engages with the curved portion 57 of the housing, thereby exercising the resiliecy of the entire length of spring.

It will be seen that in this form a fastener is provided which will be automatical` ly locked by moving the latch-presenting member into engagement with the socket member 31 and that the shoulder 54"L thereon will be held in locking position due to the action of the spring until the latch-presenting member 41 is moved to the lett in Figs. 2 and 3 to move the member 49 inwardly toward the housing. Said member 49 may, of course, be moved inwardly by hand, but can be automatically operated by engagement of the material 43 therewith upon an upward and backward pull, as the engagement of the material. with the curved surfaces 50 or 51 will cause the portion to move to unlocking position, the upward pull on the material instantly removing the portions 53 and 55 from the socket after the shoulder 54a is unlocked from the lip 3G of the socket. lf desired, a socket member, such as that shown in F ig. 5 as being applied to the carrying material 33, may be used. Said socket member comprises a base member 67 having the sockets 68 provided therein, said member 67 being held in place by means of the prongs 69, and said sockets 68 being provided with lip portions 36 sub stantially of the same construction as the socket 31.

It Will be seen that by the construction shown in Fig. 5 a very close spacing of the socket members can be provided for.

The housing for the latch member described above is preferably made from a single blank, a portion of Which is shown in dotted outline in F ig. l, and is designated by the numeral 70. rlhe material of the blank is cut along the diagonally extending dotted line 7l, so as to form the prongs 4Q, and the material designated by the numeral 72 between certain of said diagonal cuts is folded over to form, the tongues for completing the housing. c

It Will be noted that the socket member 3l is so madel that there will be no projecting parts which can be caught on the clothing, and that the member 4.9 is so shaped that there Will be no projecting portions which can catch on the clothing, or which can injure the fabric 43.

It Will also be noted that the latch 53 and the abutment are the only projecting portions of the device and that these are carried in the case of an automob-ile curtain, or similar member,` by the detachable portion so that the same will not be in a position to catch on the .clothing of the occupants of the automobile, but will only be in position when in use, at Which time the projecting portions Will be in engagement With the socket portion and will not be in a position to project so as to do any damage to clothing, or cause an unsightly appearance.

lt Will also be noted that the member 55 is in such a position that the same acts to receive all the strain of a pull on the member 43 if the same is used on an automobile curtain, as the members are so applied that the operating member 49 will be toward the free edge portion of the curtain, or similar member, so that any pull or strain on the member 43 Will be away from the freeedge thereof, or in a direction toward the left in Fig. 3 so that the abutment or stop 55 Will receive all the strain due to such an action.

In the fastener described above the locking member is automatic in action` that is, the lockingl member can'be unlocked by merely pulling on the material on which the same is mount-ed in the usual direction for removing the same. In other Words, all that is various purposes and on such articles as motor vehicle curtains, shoes, coats, gloves, etc.

While I have illustrated and described preferred embodiments of my invention, I do not Wish to be limited thereby, because the scope of my invention is best defined by the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, What desire to claim and secure by U. S. Letters Patentis:

l. A three-side lock fastener comprising, in combination, a socket presenting a stud-receiving aperture, a Vcooperating stud having a shank portion for passage through said aperture, said shank portion having an opening in one side thereof, a locking portion projecting into the opening in said shank portion, means on the locking portion for locking the stud With the socket, attaching means securing the stud to a flexible support, and means cooperating With the locking portion and extending substantially parallel to the flexible support, whereby it. may be operated by initial movement of the flexible support relative to said stud thereby to shift said lock ing portion out of locking engagement With the socket and permit separation of the stud from the socket by a pull exerted upon a predetermined side only of the flexible support.

2. A device for fastening a fiexible material to a base comprising a socket member on said base, a stud member on said material adapted to engage With said socket member comprising a cap member anda locking device mounted in said cap member having a socket engagingA portion projecting therebeyond, said locking device havingl a projecting end portion extending substantially parallel to and adjacent t-he flexible material and adapted to be engaged by the material upon which said member is mounted to unlock said device, said portion presenting surfaces curved in all directions to said material and means provided as a part of one of said members for cooperation with the other member to prevent relative lateral movement between i' f said members when they are engaged.

3. A device of the character described comprising a housing, 'a base memberl secured thereto, a socket member having a beveledV overhanging inturned annular lip portion, and a locking device mounted in said housing, said base member havinga projection thereon engaging said socket member and said locking` device having a projecting portion movable toT-.vard and away from the projection on said base member and having a slot therein engaged vby the lip portion of said socket member.

4s. A device for fastening a flexible strip of material to a support comprising a socket dit membermonnted on the support, a stud member mounted on the leXible strip of material and provided With a locking' device adapted to engi'ag'e said socket member, means tor holding said locking' device in locl-iing' engagement with said socket member, a casing located at theI enter tace of the flexible strip, said casing having; a front plate portion` means in the 'form of a side Wall spa/imgr .said front plato portion Yfrom the flexible strip, and means cooperating' with the locking,r device and located in said casing' and having a finger portion exten ding' through. an opening' in the side 7all of the said casing to lie in a plane between the front face of the casing andthe flexible support thereby to be operated by movement oit' the flev'ble strip relative to said stnd member to .shitu the locking,T device ont ot locking engagement with the support.

5. A device for fastening' a flexible strip of material to a support comprisingr a socket member mounted on the support, a stnd member mounted on the flexible strip ot material and provided With a locking device adapted to enga said socket member, means for holding said locking device in locking' engagement with said socket member, a casing); located at the outer tace ot the flexible strip, said casing having a .liront plate portion, means in the form ot a eide Wall .epacingr said front plate portion from the flexible strip, means cooperatingy with the locking; device and located in said casing and having; a linger portion extending through an opening in the eide Wall of the said casing: to lie in a plane between the iront tace of the casing,r and the flexible supportthereby to be operated by movement ot the flexible strip relative to said stnd member to shift the locking' device out of locking entre ,freinent With the support, and springr means contained within the casingr and normally urgingr the locl-infr device into lool:- ingr position.

6. A device for fastening' a flexible material to a base comprising a socl-et member on said base. a. member on said material adapted to enga cie with .said socket member comprisiner a cap member and a locking' device mounted in said cap member having a socket engaginfr portion projection therebeyond` said loc q device having' a projecting' end portion extending substantially parallel to and adjacent the flexible material and adapted to be engaged by the material upon which said member is mounted to nnloclfY said device, said proj ecting end portion beine' located a d jacent to the front tace portion ot the material npon which said member is mounted adjacent to one side ot said member thereby beine' operable by a pull. on the material exerted :it one side only of the .said member and means provided as a part ot one of said members for cooperation with the other member to prevent relative lateral movement between said members when they are engaged.

7. A device of the character described comprising a housing, a plate member secured thereto, a. socket member having' a beveled overhanging iii-turned annular lip portion. a locking` device monnted'in said honsinff, said plate member having' a pioiecti'm thereon engaging said socket member and said lockinfr device harina; a projecting perth-.n movable toward and away from the projection on said base member and having' a slot therein engaged by the lip portionlof said socket member, and spring means contained Within the casing and normally urging' the locking device into locking' position.

8. A 'fastener device ot the class described comprising, in combination, a flush type socket having' a etud-receiving aperture. a cooperating sind having; a rigid shank portion for passage into the aperture in the socle, said shank portion havin@ an opening in one side` thereof, a member having' a locking` portion exposed through. the opening; in the shank portion 'tor loclringi` cig'apgement With the socket, a flexible carrying medium to which said stud member is attached. a locking' member operating' finger located at the front side of the carrying` medium and e);- tendine' substantially parallel thereto, said linger being operable by a pull 1ted on the carrying medium at one side only of the stu d to shit't said lockingl portion ont oit locl engagement with the socket and permit .separation of the fastener, and spring` means normally urging said locking' portion into locking position.

9. A separable 'fastener stud including' a socket-engagino part havin a base and a portion for engagement with a cooperatingv socket, a flexible carrying medium to which said socket-engaging part is attached. a hollen' casing part located at the front side ol said carrying medium and having; a front plate and means forming a side vvall spacino' the front plate from the carrying' medinm.locl innr means cooperating); with said socket-en raging part to loch the stad with a socket, and a fastener unlocking; element having a finger cooperating with said loclzina' means and extending;f laterally outwardly throue'h an anertnre in'the side Wall of' the casing; 'for operation in the space between the iront plate and the said carrying medium.

10. A snap fastener member inclndiner a casino formed .trom a sine'lc piece of natal and having` atop plate portion, a bottoi'n plate portion and means formino; a connecting?` Wall between said plato portions and spacing the front plate from the carrying medium. lockingr means inclndine: a movable latchpresenting' member a finbled in said cae-ing and having),` a latch extending; tbroneh en aperture in the bach plate 'tor engagement with a cooperating snap fastener member. and an operating portion. extendin,e` laterally through an evening in the connectinp,` Wall Lacasse of the casing whereby the latch-presenting member may be manipulated.

11. A snap fastener member including a casing formed from a single piece of metal and having a top plat-e portion, a bottom plate portion and means forming a connecting wall spacing the front plate from the carrying medium, a one-piece movable latch-presenting member assembled in said casing and having a latch extending through an aperture in the back plate for engagement with a cooperating snap fastener member, and an operating portion extending laterally through an opening in the wall of the casing whereby the latch-presenting member may be manip ulated and means provided as a part of one of said members for cooperation with the other member to prevent relative lateral movement between said members when they are engaged.

12. ln a fastener installation of the class described, a casing formed from a single piece of metal and having a top plate portion, a bottom plate portion and means forming a connecting wall spacing the front plate from the carrying medium, a movable latch-presenting member assembled in said casing and having a portion extending through an aperture in the bottom plate portion for engagement with a cooperating snap fastener member, an o aeratin g portion extending laterally through an opening in the wall of the casing whereby the latch-presenting member may be manipulated, and spring means located in the casing and normally exerting pressure on the latch in one direction and means provided as a part of one of said members for cooperation with the other member to prevent relative lateral movement between said members when they are engaged.

13. A separable fastener comprising, in combination, a stud member and a socket member, said socket member being provided with astrid-receiving aperture, said stud member having a. shank for entrance into said stud-receiving aperture, one of said fastener members being secured to a flexible support and having4 a casing located at the outer side of said flexible support, said casing having a front plate portion spaced from the flexible support, a movable finger assembled with said casing and extending laterally therefrom beneath said frontV plate portion parallel to and adjacent the flexible support and confined for operation entirely between the plane of the front plate portion of the casing and the plane of the flexible support whereby said movable linger may be operated by pulling upon the flexible support adjacent to the movable finger, said finger having locking means extending therefrom at an angle relative thereto for locking the stud and socket against accidental separation and said locking means being operable by .said finger when the flexible support is pulled adjacent to the said linger.

14. A separable fastener including asocket member having a stud-receiving aperture, a cooperating stud secured to a flexible carrying medium and having a casing located at one side of the carrying medium, said casing having` a plate portion spaced from the carrying medium, means forming part of the fastener assembly for preventing lateral movement of the stud relative to the socket when engaged, a finger portion extending laterally from said casing close to the flexible carrying medium in a plane substantially parallel therewith and being confined for operation entirely within the space between the plane of the carrying medium and the plane of the plate of the said casing whereby said linger portion may be operated by an initial pull exerted upon the lower edge of the carrying medium to act upon said linger whereby said movable linger may be operated by pulling upon the flexible support adjacent to the movable finger, said fin` ger having locking means extending therefrom at an angle relative thereto for locking the stud and socket against accidental separation and said locking means being operable by said nger when the flexible support is pulled adjacent to the said finger.

15. A three-side lock fastener comprising, in combination, a socket having a stud-receiving aperture, a cooperating stud presenting a non-resilient portion for passage into said aperture, attaching` means for securing said non-resilient portion to a flexible support, means assembled with the stud and having a latch for locking the stud and socket against separation by an outward strain on the ilexible support at three sides, and a depending finger associated with said means which presents the latch and extending substantially parallel with the flexible support thereby to be operable by an initial outward pull on the flexible support at the fourth side to release the latch and permit separation of the stud from the socket.

In witness whereof, l hereunto subscribe my name this 13th day of December, A. D.

HELGE A. BORRESEN. 

